A third day of widespread unrest across northern Iraq led to
the deaths of dozens. At least 96 Iraqis were killed and 79 more were
wounded, but the final tally is unknown as many of the casualties went
uncounted in the chaos.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appeared
on television and called for calm while promising to squash the nascent Sunni
rebellion. A few Sunni army personnel are said
to be deserting their posts rather than fight fellow tribesmen.

The fighting
in Suleiman Beg continued, but no figures were released on the
additional number of casualties. The city appears
to remain under the control of the militants. It is believed
that most of them belong to the Naqshabandiya Army.

Clashes
also took place in Baquba, but the number of casualties, if any, was not
reported.

Kurdish rebels are withdrawing
from Turkey and returning to their camps in northern Iraq as part of a
peace process that could end the decades-long guerrilla war. The fighting has
frequently cross the border into northern Iraq, where it not only disrupted
rebel activities but also killed civilians.